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Authors: Janet Edwards
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Level.
“I didn’t know Mira was
born with a genetic condition,” I said.
“I didn’t realize I was
thinking about Mira,” said Adika.
There was an incomprehensible
patch in his thoughts. Something about an extra copy of a chromosome. The word
chromosome was vaguely familiar, I thought I’d heard my parents say it, but I
didn’t know its meaning. I made a mental note that it was possible to read someone’s
thoughts but not understand them.
“Mira turned out to be an
excellent telepath, and always eager to do her best to help the Hive,” said
Adika. “We just needed to protect her from too much pressure, and make sure she
always had the same familiar bodyguards with her.”
I listened to the words,
but picked up extra details from Adika’s thoughts as well. I relived the echo
of his old disappointment, when Mira’s preferences had put someone else into a
deputy team leader spot, and he’d had to wait ten long years for a chance to
fill that role for Morton. I resented that for Adika, but he’d never considered
it an injustice. He had tremendous respect for how hard Mira worked and how
well she did her job. If having someone else as deputy team leader made things
easier for her, then that was for the good of the Hive, and …
I realized I’d got caught
by that old memory, swept up in the emotional overtones as if it was happening
right here and now instead of seventeen years ago. I pulled myself away with an
effort.
“Since I can’t be
imprinted, I’d like to meet the other true telepaths and learn from them.”
“That’s not a good idea,”
said Adika. “Mira couldn’t help you, Keith would be a very bad example, Morton
wouldn’t agree, and Sapphire …”
He hesitated for a moment.
It was strange reading his thoughts. I could see he was inventing reasons why I
shouldn’t meet the other telepaths, attempting to convince himself as much as
me.
I went a level or two
deeper into his mind, and things got even stranger. Adika knew it was important
that telepaths should be kept apart from each other, but not why. There were no
memories associated to the rule, and there was an odd, impersonal quality to it.
I’d met this sort of thing before in Megan’s mind, and discovered it meant it was
imprinted data rather than something she’d learned personally, but usually rules
like this included the reasons behind them.
“Sapphire is far too busy,”
added Adika finally.
He was thinking that this
first meeting had achieved its purpose, and he wanted to leave before I pushed
the subject of the other telepaths any further, so I nodded at him. “Thank
you.”
He stood and went out of
the door. I was still linked to his mind as he saw Megan sitting on a chair in
the hallway. She stood up to greet him, her short skirt flashing a tempting
length of thigh that …
I gasped with shock, and instinctively
pulled out of Adika’s mind. Waste it! I wasn’t attracted to women, and I didn’t
possess the bit of anatomy that I’d felt responding to Megan.
When she entered the room
a moment later, I was deeply relieved to find I reacted to her as myself rather
than Adika. Megan must have noticed something strange about my expression,
because she frowned at me.
“There’s a problem with
Adika?”
“No,” I said hastily. “He
seems perfect for my Strike team leader.”
She looked relieved. “Amber,
you’re clearly finding this difficult and should rest now.”
I barely heard her words.
I was still thinking through what had happened with Adika. It might have hit me
in a different way, but I’d really had exactly the same problem with him as
with Megan. Fran too for that matter. Everyone was hurling their emotions at me
like missiles.
“I’ll tell Lucas that
you’ll see him tomorrow,” said Megan.
I hurriedly shook my head.
I didn’t want to delay meeting Lucas. He was my Tactical Commander candidate. The
person who would give me answers to my host of questions.
“I’m perfectly
“I didn’t know Mira was
born with a genetic condition,” I said.
“I didn’t realize I was
thinking about Mira,” said Adika.
There was an incomprehensible
patch in his thoughts. Something about an extra copy of a chromosome. The word
chromosome was vaguely familiar, I thought I’d heard my parents say it, but I
didn’t know its meaning. I made a mental note that it was possible to read someone’s
thoughts but not understand them.
“Mira turned out to be an
excellent telepath, and always eager to do her best to help the Hive,” said
Adika. “We just needed to protect her from too much pressure, and make sure she
always had the same familiar bodyguards with her.”
I listened to the words,
but picked up extra details from Adika’s thoughts as well. I relived the echo
of his old disappointment, when Mira’s preferences had put someone else into a
deputy team leader spot, and he’d had to wait ten long years for a chance to
fill that role for Morton. I resented that for Adika, but he’d never considered
it an injustice. He had tremendous respect for how hard Mira worked and how
well she did her job. If having someone else as deputy team leader made things
easier for her, then that was for the good of the Hive, and …
I realized I’d got caught
by that old memory, swept up in the emotional overtones as if it was happening
right here and now instead of seventeen years ago. I pulled myself away with an
effort.
“Since I can’t be
imprinted, I’d like to meet the other true telepaths and learn from them.”
“That’s not a good idea,”
said Adika. “Mira couldn’t help you, Keith would be a very bad example, Morton
wouldn’t agree, and Sapphire …”
He hesitated for a moment.
It was strange reading his thoughts. I could see he was inventing reasons why I
shouldn’t meet the other telepaths, attempting to convince himself as much as
me.
I went a level or two
deeper into his mind, and things got even stranger. Adika knew it was important
that telepaths should be kept apart from each other, but not why. There were no
memories associated to the rule, and there was an odd, impersonal quality to it.
I’d met this sort of thing before in Megan’s mind, and discovered it meant it was
imprinted data rather than something she’d learned personally, but usually rules
like this included the reasons behind them.
“Sapphire is far too busy,”
added Adika finally.
He was thinking that this
first meeting had achieved its purpose, and he wanted to leave before I pushed
the subject of the other telepaths any further, so I nodded at him. “Thank
you.”
He stood and went out of
the door. I was still linked to his mind as he saw Megan sitting on a chair in
the hallway. She stood up to greet him, her short skirt flashing a tempting
length of thigh that …
I gasped with shock, and instinctively
pulled out of Adika’s mind. Waste it! I wasn’t attracted to women, and I didn’t
possess the bit of anatomy that I’d felt responding to Megan.
When she entered the room
a moment later, I was deeply relieved to find I reacted to her as myself rather
than Adika. Megan must have noticed something strange about my expression,
because she frowned at me.
“There’s a problem with
Adika?”
“No,” I said hastily. “He
seems perfect for my Strike team leader.”
She looked relieved. “Amber,
you’re clearly finding this difficult and should rest now.”
I barely heard her words.
I was still thinking through what had happened with Adika. It might have hit me
in a different way, but I’d really had exactly the same problem with him as
with Megan. Fran too for that matter. Everyone was hurling their emotions at me
like missiles.
“I’ll tell Lucas that
you’ll see him tomorrow,” said Megan.
I hurriedly shook my head.
I didn’t want to delay meeting Lucas. He was my Tactical Commander candidate. The
person who would give me answers to my host of questions.
“I’m perfectly
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